<p class="title">A half-fit Ravindra Jadeja proved his worth with a half-century and a brilliant run-out as Saurashtra comfortably beat Andhra by 59 runs to enter the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.</p>.<p class="title">The Cheteshwar Pujara-led team will lock horns with Karnataka in the final on February 27 after a dominating show on a low and slow Kotla track. Jadeja, who did not play in the quarterfinal due to a side-strain, is not supposed to bowl for the next three weeks, but that did not deter him from chipping in with a 51-ball-56 which helped Saurashtra get out of the rut to post a decent 255 in 49.1 overs.</p>.<p class="title">In reply, Andhra started off confidently but then as it happens with the minnows, they could not handle the pressure on a big day and were all out for 196 in 45.3 overs. While another left-arm spinner Dharmendra Jadeja (4/40 in 10 overs) was the pick of the bowlers, Jadeja's direct throw from short fine leg, accounted for in-form former India U-19 captain Ricky Bhui (13).</p>.<p class="title">Jadeja came to the crease after Cheteshwar Pujara's painstaking (17 off 53 balls) innings ended in a mis-timed pull-shot leaving Saurashtra reeling at 69 for 4. Along with another young left-hander Arpit Vasavada (58 off 59 balls, 4x4, 2x6), Jadeja added 113 runs for the fifth wicket. Jadeja's innings had four boundaries and a six. He was run-out going for a second run.</p>.<p class="title">Coach Shitansu Kotak, who himself has been a Saurahstra giant during his playing days, wants a repeat of 2008 season, when they thrashed Bengal in the final.</p>.<p class="title">"During that season, we had beaten Karnataka in the knock-outs. I was playing for Saurashtra then. Then last season, in Patiala, we again beat Karnataka in a days' match. So I am confident that boys will do well," Kotak said after the match.</p>.<p class="title">He was all praise for Jadeja's commitment despite not being hundred percent fit.</p>.<p class="title">"Jadeja has been advised not to bowl for three weeks by the team physio due to the side strain, which he sustained during the league phase while trying an under-arm flick throw. Despite that he has shown excellent commitment. In the league stage match against Jharkhand, he was feeling the pain constantly. I sent the 12th man and told him that get your 50 and come out but he told me, let me win it for the team. He got a hundred (Saurashtra chased 330)," a beaming Kotak said.</p>.<p class="title">The best part about the team has been its bench-strength, feels the dogged left-hander of yesteryear.</p>.<p class="title">"We have performed well despite injuries. Someone like Robin (Uthappa) is also not fit. I had to at least play one among Robin and Jadeja. Also the bowling performance is a testimony to our bench strength," Kotak added.</p>.<p class="title"><span class="bold">Brief scores:</span> Saurashtra: 255 all out in 49.1 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 56, Arpit Vasavada 58) bt Andhra: 196 all out in 45.3 overs (B Sumath 42; Dharmendra Jadeja 4-40).</p>
<p class="title">A half-fit Ravindra Jadeja proved his worth with a half-century and a brilliant run-out as Saurashtra comfortably beat Andhra by 59 runs to enter the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.</p>.<p class="title">The Cheteshwar Pujara-led team will lock horns with Karnataka in the final on February 27 after a dominating show on a low and slow Kotla track. Jadeja, who did not play in the quarterfinal due to a side-strain, is not supposed to bowl for the next three weeks, but that did not deter him from chipping in with a 51-ball-56 which helped Saurashtra get out of the rut to post a decent 255 in 49.1 overs.</p>.<p class="title">In reply, Andhra started off confidently but then as it happens with the minnows, they could not handle the pressure on a big day and were all out for 196 in 45.3 overs. While another left-arm spinner Dharmendra Jadeja (4/40 in 10 overs) was the pick of the bowlers, Jadeja's direct throw from short fine leg, accounted for in-form former India U-19 captain Ricky Bhui (13).</p>.<p class="title">Jadeja came to the crease after Cheteshwar Pujara's painstaking (17 off 53 balls) innings ended in a mis-timed pull-shot leaving Saurashtra reeling at 69 for 4. Along with another young left-hander Arpit Vasavada (58 off 59 balls, 4x4, 2x6), Jadeja added 113 runs for the fifth wicket. Jadeja's innings had four boundaries and a six. He was run-out going for a second run.</p>.<p class="title">Coach Shitansu Kotak, who himself has been a Saurahstra giant during his playing days, wants a repeat of 2008 season, when they thrashed Bengal in the final.</p>.<p class="title">"During that season, we had beaten Karnataka in the knock-outs. I was playing for Saurashtra then. Then last season, in Patiala, we again beat Karnataka in a days' match. So I am confident that boys will do well," Kotak said after the match.</p>.<p class="title">He was all praise for Jadeja's commitment despite not being hundred percent fit.</p>.<p class="title">"Jadeja has been advised not to bowl for three weeks by the team physio due to the side strain, which he sustained during the league phase while trying an under-arm flick throw. Despite that he has shown excellent commitment. In the league stage match against Jharkhand, he was feeling the pain constantly. I sent the 12th man and told him that get your 50 and come out but he told me, let me win it for the team. He got a hundred (Saurashtra chased 330)," a beaming Kotak said.</p>.<p class="title">The best part about the team has been its bench-strength, feels the dogged left-hander of yesteryear.</p>.<p class="title">"We have performed well despite injuries. Someone like Robin (Uthappa) is also not fit. I had to at least play one among Robin and Jadeja. Also the bowling performance is a testimony to our bench strength," Kotak added.</p>.<p class="title"><span class="bold">Brief scores:</span> Saurashtra: 255 all out in 49.1 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 56, Arpit Vasavada 58) bt Andhra: 196 all out in 45.3 overs (B Sumath 42; Dharmendra Jadeja 4-40).</p>
